Thursday, September 13, 2012

IUCN Report: Priceless or Worthless?

Przewalski's Horse
(Equus ferus przewalski),
Central Asia

IUCN and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) released a new list of the most endangered speices on the planet. This new publication entitled ‘Priceless or Worthless?’ was presented in the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Jeju, Korea.

Rodrigues fody (Foudia flavicans),
Mauritius Islands

The report looks into the 100 species which aare in the first line to disappear completely. The list was compiled by more than 8000 scientists from the IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) and it includes animals, plants and fungi. Without conservation efforts, these species are the most likely to become extinct. The actions needed to conserve this species are outlined in this publication. Moreover, the report raises a necessary debate on the value of extinction and suggests how to set a value to endangered species within our political, legal, social and economic systems. If such value is not recognised by these systems, scientists fear these species will become extinct.

The report also carries a list of extinctions and the most succeful conservation efforts which have been safeguarding oganisms from extinction. Examples include the recovery of the Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalski), the Rodrigues fody (Foudia flavicans) and the Humpback whale (Megaptera novaengliae).

“All the species listed are unique and irreplaceable. If they vanish, no amount of money can bring them back. However, if we take immediate action we can give them a fighting chance for survival. But this requires society to support the moral and ethical position that all species have an inherent right to exist.”